By-Laws
NENA
NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION
SOUTH CAROLINA
CONSTITUTION
AND
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I – PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY
Section 1. Name and General Membership Requirement
This membership shall be open to all persons of good character who meet the membership requirements of this Constitution and /or Bylaws adopted pursuant thereto.
Section 2. Purpose
The purpose of the South Carolina Chapter shall be to:
a.) Foster the development, availability and implementation of a universal emergency telephone number common to all jurisdictions by means of research, planning, training and education; represent its members before communications regulatory agencies and policy making bodies as may be appropriate, and through its efforts strive toward citizens having immediate access to emergency public safety services to the end that the safety of human life, the protection of property and the civic welfare are benefited to the utmost degree;
b.) Aid and assist in the timely collection and dissemination of information relating to a universal emergency telephone number;
c.) Prepare, publish and distribute or cause to be prepared, published and distributed a publication at regular intervals. This publication shall contain technical, administrative, operational, training, and educational information considered of interest to the membership of this Chapter of NENA and to other people who are interested in the field of public safety emergency communications.
d.) Establish and maintain an office, if deemed necessary and appropriate, wherein shall be housed its staff, files, records, equipment and those functions necessary for the adequate management of the Chapter’s activities; and
e.) Provide for membership in this Chapter in accordance with the language and intent of its Constitution and Bylaws, which are now, and may later be in effect. Membership shall not be limited other than by classification and good character and shall have such rights and privileges by classification as may be provided from time to time in keeping with the state of development of the art of public safety emergency communications.
Section 1. Membership Designations
The membership of this Chapter shall be divided into the classes as outlined in the NENA Bylaws. These classes are ACTIVE, COMMERICAL AND ASSOCIATE.
Members shall be admitted in accord with the classification requirements set forth in this Article. Membership shall not be denied on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age or numerical limitation. All members are eligible to serve on committee if appointed.
1.1 Active Member:
The following shall be eligible for ACTIVE membership in the Chapter: Any administrative, supervisory and telecommunication personnel responsible for planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling and operating functions required in the design, promotion, construction, installation, maintenance, command and/or operation of public safety emergency communications systems who are employed and salaried by federal, state or local government agency, or an agency substantially supported by government funds, or who serve on the Board of Directors of an Emergency Communications District or other "9-1-1" agency established in accordance with South Carolina law.
1.2 Commercial Member:
The following shall be eligible for COMMERCIAL membership in the Chapter: Those persons in the business sector who receive the majority of their compensation from the design, manufacture, sale, service, maintenance, lease, rental or promotion of equipment or systems which are used or can be used in public safety emergency systems; and those persons who are engaged in writing, publishing, advising, and consulting in the public safety emergency communications field or who distribute goods and represent companies, firms, or persons including themselves and others who profit materially from such activities.
1.3 Associate Member:
Those persons not eligible for, or restricted from the ACTIVE or COMMERCIAL classes of membership shall be eligible for ASSOCIATE membership.
Section 2. Dues
The dues rate for each class of membership in this Chapter are set forth in the National NENA Bylaws Article V.
Section 3. Voting and Officer Restrictions
Only Active & Commercial members, as defined herein above, in good standing, may vote for and hold elected positions in the State Chapter except for President.
Section 1. Designation
The officers of the S. C. State Chapter shall consist of the following: President, Vice-President – Central (Midlands Region), Coastal (Low Country Region), Northern (Piedmont Region) and Southern (Pee Dee Region), Secretary and Treasurer.
All offices will be filled by election at the annual conference of the Chapter.
Section 2. Election Procedure:
2.1
The nominating committee shall call for nomination for all officers from the Active membership and prepare a slate of candidates. Officers shall be elected by secret ballot, in the event of more than one candidate for a particular office, from the slate submitted by the nominating committee in accordance with By-Laws Article IV, Section 1.1. Officers must be eligible to hold office in accordance with the Constitution Article II, Section 3.